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Approve a contract with the County of Alameda for $120,000 for the period of December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2027, to partner with East Bay Economic Development Alliance to expand job placement opportunities in the East Bay region for Solano County workers; Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee, with County Counsel concurrence, to execute the agreement and any subsequent amendments up to an aggregate $74,999 annually; and Authorize the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County to execute amendments to this agreement that are technical or administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact
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Published Notice Required? Yes _X _ No _ _
Public Hearing Required? Yes _X _ No _ _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Workforce Development Board of Solano County recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a contract with the County of Alameda for $120,000 for the period of December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2027, to partner with East Bay Economic Development Alliance to expand job placement opportunities in the East Bay region for Solano County workers;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee, with County Counsel concurrence, to execute the agreement and any subsequent amendments up to an aggregate $74,999 annually; and
3. Authorize the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County to execute amendments to this agreement that are technical or administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Workforce Development Board of Solano County (WDB) develops and administers several contracts each fiscal year based on federal, state and local funding for regional and local program services. This contract with the County of Alameda, as the contracting authority for the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), will expand job placement opportunities in the East Bay region for Solano County workers displaced by the closure of the Valero Benicia Refinery and related regional layoffs.
Between December 2025 and spring 2026, five major employers filed Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices eliminating more than 700 jobs across the manufacturing, refining, maritime, and retail sectors. Reemployment opportunities within Solano County are not sufficient to absorb the number of workers displaced. In April 2026, the WDB received a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Additional Assistance award through the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to address the workforce and economic impacts of the Valero Refinery closure in Benicia and related regional layoffs. In June 2026, EDD approved the allocation of $120,000 to expand business engagement and job placement activities in the East Bay region, where advanced manufacturing and other industrial sectors are experiencing significant growth and hiring demand.
East Bay EDA is a membership organization of approximately 150 East Bay employers and small businesses active in regional economic development. East Bay EDA operates as a unit within the Alameda County Administrator’s Office, and the County of Alameda serves as its contracting authority; as a result, the contract is with the County of Alameda, with services performed by East Bay EDA. Under the contract, East Bay EDA will identify employment opportunities among its members and other regional employers, coordinate with the WDB Business Services Team to establish a referral network for dislocated workers, analyze labor market trends across key manufacturing subsectors through its Resilient East Bay initiative, and document project strategies and worker outcomes to inform future dislocated worker efforts. The WDB will retain sole responsibility for participant enrollment, eligibility determination, case management, and performance reporting.
East Bay EDA was procured through a sole source process in accordance with the WDB’s procurement policy, based on its unique regional employer network and economic development partnerships, and its inclusion in the project was approved by EDD. The WDB Board of Directors approved the agreement on July 17, 2026. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved agreement at their October 20, 2026.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The WDB’s FY2026/27 budget, as well as the proposed FY2027/28 budget, include the necessary funding to cover the cost of this contract. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could not approve the contract and direct staff to pursue an alternative approach for regional business engagement and job placement services. However, East Bay EDA was selected due to its unique regional employer network, and its inclusion in the project was approved by EDD. Declining approval would delay or limit implementation of approved grant activities and reduce access to East Bay employment opportunities for Solano County workers impacted by regional layoffs.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this contract included on this agenda for legal sufficiency. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved the contract on October 20, 2026, and Alameda County Counsel has approved it as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION